Catchup dispenser



1951 J. c. LOWE, JR

CATCHUP DISPENSER Filed July 19, 1946 A H0 meys Patented Oct. 23, 1 951 s PATENT CATCHUP DISPENSER 7 John C. Lowe, Jr., Youn gwood, Pa. V Application July 19, 1946, Serial No. 684,651

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to dispensing devices in the form of a closure and extruder for bottles containing ketchup and other liquid and semiliquid substances.

As is well known, after a fresh bottle of ketchup has been uncapped and subject to the atmosphere, it quickly clogs in the neck of the bottle and frequently considerable exertion is necessary in order to shake the contents from the bottle.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary closure and dispenser adapted to be applied to such bottles as contain ketchup, so as to exclude air from the bottle after it has been initially opened, to preclude the hardening of the ketchup in theneck of the bottle and to also facilitate the extraction of the ketchup from the bottle in the portions desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure and dispenser for ketchup bottles which can be quickly and accurately applied to a ketchup bottle neck without any modification of the bottle proper, and which can be used over and over again as fresh ketchup bottles are opened.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the device applied to a bottle neck;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the device detached from the bottle.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 5 generally refers to a ketchup bottle, or in fact, a bottle containing any substance that has a tendency to solidify or harden when subjected to the atmosphere. This type of bottle 5 generally has a head portion 6, which in merging with the neck portion I defines a shoulder 8.

The present invention is generally referred to by numeral 9 and consists of a knob l having an elongated depending stem l l, slideable through an opening in the upper portion of a downwardly flaring hood l2, the lower end of the stem H carrying a ketchup pusher disc [3, between which and .the upper interior of the hood [2 a coiled compression spring I4 is interposed, the spring [4 being convoluted about the stem II.

The hood 12 has an outstanding flange l defining a cover for the upper end of the bottle neck, this flange 15 being out off on the chordal line l6, the flange [5 having its circular formation continued by the presence of a section l1 carried by a leg I8 depending from the knob l0 and which, when the closure is properly seated, fits in an opening in the side wall of the hood [2. The section I1 and the flange 15 have rubber or other resilient pieces I9, 20 respectively, secured against their undersides and bearing against the head 6 of the bottle to exclude air from the interior of the bottle.

An outstanding and depending leg 2! projects from the flange l5 and carries a spring clip 22 at its lower end for embracing the neck of the bottle at a point just under the shoulder 8. This clip snugly hugs the neck of the bottle and preferably bears against the shoulder 8, so that upon lifting the knob It], the device cannot become detached from the bottle.

In the use and operation of the device, the bottle is first tilted so that ketchup will run into the neck portion thereof, after which the knob 10 is pulled outwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, which will unseat the closure section I l, as the pusher disc l3 forces the ketchup in the neck, out through the opening left by the section [1, while the spring [4 compresses itself in the dome l2, allowing the pusher disc [3 to be pulled very close to the closure flange l5, extruding practically all of the ketchup in the neck, if that much is desired. As much ketchup from the neck of the bottle as is desired can be extruded by regulating the extent of pull of the knob ID.

The clip 22 which is forced over the head 6 in the original placement 'of the device on the bottle will snugly hug the neck of the bottle and prevent accidental displacement of the device therefrom.

The device can be constructed of inexpensive materials and can be used on successive bottles of ketchup and over a considerable period of time, due to its durable and substantially foolproof construction.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter. 7

Having described theinvention, what is claimed as new is:

A dispensing closure for bottles having a shouldered neck comprising a lid for disposition over the top of the bottle neck, mean for dispensing the contents of the bottle through said lid, said lid being provided with a depending leg extending downwardly along the neck of the bottle, and a spring clamp to which the leg is secured, said spring clamp being adapted to embrace the neck 5 portion of the bottle under the shoulder thereof, said means for dispensing the contents of the bottle consisting of a slide member movable through the lid, said lid having a sectional portion attached to the slidable member and adapted to be lifted by said slidable member to define an opening through which the contents of the bottle can be poured.

JOHN c. LOWE, JR.

2,572,167 if ILL 4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 421,226 Baldwin Feb. 11, 1890 705,018 Bechtold July 22, 1902 1,813 835 A Bates et a1. V V July '7, 1931 2,036,549 Smith Apr.'7, 1936 '2,249,919 Sprout July 22, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 395,254 France Feb. 18, 1909 

